Shoe-sole construction



Nov. 29, 1927. 1,650,817

a. w. BLAIR SHOE SOLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 6, 1925 frufenm Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

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Application filed member s, 1925. serial No. 67,212.

My invention relates to the construction of soles of shoes andthe like and hasfrefr once more particularly to the nianner of'securing the outer sole to the bottom structure of the shoe. s v

it has bccnfound desirable in the manu} facture of shoes to'use outer soles of composition containing rubber, this type jof sole being particularly advantageous in work shoes, boys shoes and in other cases where the shoes are subjected to hard usage or used largely out of doors'or ill Wei places. $oles of this character are not only extremely 'durable and waterproof but are more flei ible than leather soles and avoid the stiffness and discomfort occasioned particularly in heavy shoes when soles of leather leam ployed. However, a serious objection has been encountered intlleuse of the composition soles due to the tendency of su'clisoles to stretch under constantusage particularly when exposed to oil or oily substances and this stretching causes the outer sole to bulge and pull away from the bottom structiireof the shoe.

The principal obj ects ofiny inyention are to minimize the stretcl'iing of outer soles of composition material; to hold the outer sole at various points throughout its area securely to the superposed portion of the sole structure; to prevent bulging eras compo sition sole; to securely and permanently unite middle portions of the outer sole with the superposed layer or layers ofthe assein} bled sole; toprovide a convenient and inexpensive method and means for reinforcing the outer sole against stretcl'iinp; and bulg and increase ing; and in general to improve the durability of composition soles.

()n the drawings Fig-. 1 is a side viewfofa shoe embodying my improyenients, with a portion broken awayto disclose details of construction. i

Fig. 2, a bottom View of the forward portion of the sole with a portion of the outer sole broken away; and i Fig. 3, a sectional VlBW along the reinforcing line of stitches, taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings I have shown my invention applied to a shoe of an ordinary type although it is to be understood that my improvements may be used in connection with other types of footwear. The

surface of the middle soled reference numeral 1 indicates the upper of the shoe as a whole whichin the present case is provided with a lining 2. 3 is the inner sole overwhich the lower edge of the upper Q1 undlining 2 lasted in the usualniannei" and -ft is a middle sole which projects u be yond the inturn'ed lower edge-of the upper l and is seem-ed in place "the marginal line of stitches?) which are passed through the. middle sole 4, theinturned 'edgeof the upper and the marginal portion ofthe inner .sole 3, and serve to secure the interned lower edge ginalportions of the, insole '3 soled. a p y The intu'rned edge of the upper 1 terms a raised edge around the under side of the inner sole 3 and the cavity or space embraced thereby is filled in', preparatory tojthe appli catioh of the middle sole 4, by a filling 6 of cork "fragments or other suitab le mateiial. The filling :6 or layer of cork fragments is cemented on'to'the outer side of the inner sole 3 and the middle sole, All is cementedlto the outerstirface of the filling 6 or layerof cork fragments, y

The outer sole 7. which beef any suitable composition such as it is now a conimonfpractice to use is laid against the outer I p and preferably cemented thereto after which a line of. stitches 8 is appliedaround the edge thereof andthrough the edge of the middle sole 4 of i the upper firmly between i the mar-'- and the middle for the purpose reening the outer sole 7 to the shoe. In the preferred construction a line of lock stitches 9 is then applied through the marginal portions of the inner middle andouter soles 3, fl and Trespectiyely bined sole so that the connection between the upper and lower threads is thoroughly protected against wear or separatlon.

In shoes and footwear wherein the outer sole is composed of a composition containing rubber it has been found that sometimes when subjected tohard usage, and particularly when the shoes are worn in places where they are subjected to oil or oily substances, the composition sole has a tendency and through the i'nturnjed edge ofthe upper 4 theother layers of the entire sole and held thereby ,against stretching and bulging. The stitches may be arranged in any convenient manner in somewhat concentric and elliptically formed lines as shown at and 11, and the stitches are preferably lock stitches with the connection between the upper and lower {threads embodied well within: the sole so that the interengaged portions ofjthe threads are thoroughly protected against injuryinusing the shoe. The lines of stitches may be arranged otherwise than as shown in the drawing either by employing transverse, longitudinal or otherwise arranged lines of stitches which serve to reinforce the center part of the sole and are sufiieiently close to theouter rows of stitches to prevent any material loosening up or bulging of the outer sole 7.

, In practice the outer sole 7 is usually made with a fabric covering 12 firmly secured to the upper surface by vulcaniz'ing or otherwise which serves to materially avoid stretching or distortion of the outer Sole 7 Tl1e middle sole may be of any desired construction, but is preferably adapted vto resist stretching. In the present case this middle sole is a laminated structure comprising a middle" layer 13 of leather or fibrous material having outer layers 14 of composition vulcanized or otherwise firmly secured thereto. Q

With this construction not only is the bulging or stretching of the outer sole prevented but the various layers composing the entire sole are firmly bonded together so that the adhesion due to the cementing together of the layers of the sole is maintained and moreover slipping action or relative movement between the layers of the sole which oftentimes occurs in walking or bending the I sole of the shoe and which imposes excessive strain on the fastenings, is obviated and a stronger, more substantial and durable shoe results.

In View of the fact that the stitches 10 and 11 are lock stitches having the interengaged loops of the upper and lower threads embedded in the sole, there is sufiicient frictional engagementof the threads with the outer sole so that in the event that the exposed portions of the threads are worn down and separated the connection of the outer sole is still maintained by the engagement of the remaining portions of the threads with the outer sole. After the center stitching of the shoe is completed a sock liner 15 is preferably inserted and cemented in place so as to cover the exposed upper ends of the stitches and ailord a smoothcomfortable surface for supporting the foot, i While I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, I am aware that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the principles of my invention the scope of which is to be determined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a shoe, the combination of an inner sole, an outer sole of rubber composition and an intermediate sole, separate stitches connecting the inner andouter soles to said intermediate sole, :1 continuous line of stitches around the toe, ball and shank portions and extending through and connecting the inner and outer soles to said intermediate sole, and stitches distributed substantially throughout the area of and interlocking the tread portion of the outer sole with said inner and intermediate soles.

2. In a shoe, the combination of an inner sole, an outer sole of rubber composition, an intermediate sole, separate stitches connecting the inner and outer soles to said intermediate sole, a continuous line of stitches around the toe, ball and shank portions and extending through and connecting the inner and outer soles to said intermediate sole, and lock stitches distributed substantially throughout the area of andrinterlocking the tread portion of the outer sole with said inner and intermediate soles, the inter-engaging portions of the upper and lower threads of the lock stitch being located within the GEORGE W. BLAIR.

combination sole. 

